The art of emerging at the best moment! Esteban Ocon seemed to lack rhythm for a long time compared to Fernando Alonso during all the free practice sessions, then in Q1 and Q2 during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix. But the Norman was able to slam THE reference time at the best time, in the final lap launched on the very technical track of the Hungaroring, where he had signed his first victory in Formula 1 last year. Ocon, classified fifth, preceded with a breath his Spanish teammate. The Alpines will therefore monopolize the third row tomorrow in the race. The other Norman, Pierre Gasly still had a very complicated qualification. Author of the penultimate time, he must deal with an AlphaTauri in cruel lack of improvement compared to the nine other teams on the board.
Q1: the Alpines pass the first skimming without difficulty with the sixth fastest time for Fernando Alonso and the ninth for Esteban Ocon. The way of the cross continues for Pierre Gasly, eliminated from this first part of the qualifications. Forced to attack excessively to compensate for the lack of performance of his AlphaTauri, the Normand went slightly beyond the limits of the track in his final flying lap. He had to settle for a very modest 19th in time, three places behind his teammate Tsunoda, also eliminated in Q1. The race promises to be difficult for the drivers of the Italian team at this Hungaroring where overtaking is very complicated!
Q2: Esteban Ocon crosses this Q2 in complicated circumstances. Credited with the eleventh fastest time after his first outing on the track, he made his last attempt when a few drops of rain made the track tricky. The Alpine driver obtains a meritorious eighth fastest time, where a Red Bull driver (Sergio Perez) could not extract himself from this Q2.
Q3: Fernando Alonso again takes the lead in the duel between the Alpine drivers during the first outing. But Esteban Ocon, eighth after the first run, managed an exceptional final flying lap to climb to fifth place. The Norman is ahead of his teammate Fernando Alonso, but also Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) and even world champion Max Verstappen (Red Bull), faced with an engine problem and relegated to tenth place. The Ferraris, long untouchable, were finally overtaken by the unexpected George Russell, author of the first pole position of his career.